Ball-caster.



' No. 718,343. 4 PATENTED JAN. 13, M. EAGLE. I

BALL CASTER. -l

N0 MODEL.

Urrsn STATES lPATENT Cueros.

MARK HAGLE, OF VVAUSAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

BALL-CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 718,343, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed April 12, 1902. Serial No. 102,618. (No model.)

'lo all whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, MARK HAGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wausaukee, in the county of li/Iarinette and State of Wis cousin, have invented a new and usefulBall- Caster, of which the following is a specifica tion.

The present invention relates to casters, and particularly to that class in which a bearing-ball is employed.

The object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive structure which is strong and durable, the several parts being so arranged and related that the body will be completely supported at the portions where the strain is applied, thereby preventing said body becoming distorted or misshapen.

The preferred manner of accomplishing the above object will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Y Figure 1 is a sectional view through the lower portion of a table-leg, showing the improved caster applied thereto, said caster being illustrated in elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the caster with the pintle-retainer thereon. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the caster. Fig. 4t is a horizontal sectional view throughthe same.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The body of the caster :is preferably made of one piece of metal, which is spun and bent to proper form. It comprises a hollow sheetmetal pintle 10, from the lower end of which projects an outstanding flat bearing-wall 11,V

said wall being made integral with the pintle, as shown. On the side of the wall 11 opposite the pintle 10 is the ball-casing 12, said casing being cylindrical in form and having its walls located within the planes of the edge of the bearing-wall, said edge being doubled back to form a ange 13, which is of double thickness. The bearing-wall 11 and the wall of the casing 12 are disposed at right angles to each other, and in the angle thus formed are arranged a plurality of antifrictiou-balls 14, said angle constituting a race for the same. A bearingball 15 is also located within the casing, its upper portion resting against the antifrictionballs, its lower portion projecting through the bottom of the casing, the lower end of which is inturned, as shown at 15. Openings 16 may be made through the outstanding iiange 13,

and through these openings can be passed suitable fasteniu g devices. A pintle-retainer is also employed in connection with the abovedescribed caster, said retainer being in `the `form of asleeve 17, that receives the pintle 10 of the caster. This sleeve is provided at its lower end with an outstanding bearingilange 18 and is provided on its outer face with a plurality of holding-studs 19. An inwardly-extendiug tongue 20 also constitutes a part of the pintle-retainer and is arranged to engage the pintle when it is placed within the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 2. This retainer is ofcourse placed in a suitable socket formed in the bottom of the article of furniture to which the caster is applied, and it practically constitutes a part thereof.

There are distinct advantages for this construction. In the first place, it can be made at very little cost,`and being of sheet metal it will be evident that unless properly supported it would be liable to become distorted by the weight of the furniture supported thereby. Tov prevent this, therefore, the bearing-wall 11 is made flat, so that it will rest directly against the surface to which the caster is applied, and the upward strain will thus'be received by such surface.. The outward strain, however, must be received by the' wall of the receptacle, and the outstanding flange 13 is employed particularly for this purpose, as it affords a double thickness of metal enti rely'around the ball-casing, thus strengthening the same at the place where the greatest strain is applied thereto.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advan- IOO l. In a ball-caster, the combination with a pintle-retainer comprising a sleeve having an outstanding bearing-flange at its lower end, of a caster-body comprising a pintle that engages in the sleeve, a ballcasing, and an ontstanding flange that rests against and projects beyond the edge of the said bearing- Allange and is provided in its projecting portion with openings for the reception of fastening devices.

2. In a ball-caster, a body formed of a single piece 'of sheet metal and comprising a pintle from the lower end of which projects an outstanding Hat bearing-Wall, a cylindrical ball-casing extending from the side of the liiearingwvall opposite the pintle and being located within the plane of the edge thereof, said edge being doubled back upon itself,

"Aasee antifriction-balls located in the angle formed by the Hat bearing-Wall and the cylindrical casing, and a bearing-ball resting against the antifriction-balls and projecting through the lower end of the casing.

3. A caster-body made of a single piece of metal and comprising the hollow pintle or shank 10, the fiat bearing-Wall Il, and the cylindrical ballcasing l2, the Wall projecting beyond the casing and constituting a flange 13 which is formed of two thicknesses of metal.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myoWn I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARK I'IAGLE.

Vitn esses:

H. G. LAUN, C. F. PETERSON. 

